Clasp.



PATENTBD AUG. 28, 1906.

0. W. JONES.

CLASP.

, 1905.` EENEWED AUG. 1, 1906.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 21

fnz-NoRRls PETERS co., wAsHmaraN. n.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 28, 1906.

Application iled February 21, 1905. Renewed August l, 1906. Serial No. 328,762.

citizen of the United States, residing at Sol nora, inthe county of Tuolumne and State of .California, have invented new and useful VImprovements in Clasps, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a device which I term a clas and which is especially serviceable for t e adjustment of the straps by which stirrups are suspended from a saddle.

The invention consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations of parts, which I will hereinafter describe and claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 1s a perspective view of my inven- I tion, showingA the spring 6 riveted in the center. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper plate 4 and the spring 6. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower plate. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the upper plate, showing one end of the spring broken away and the removed portion shown by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the application of the device to a single line of holes and showing the rivet of the plate at one side of the center thereof. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the device used with a strap having a double line of holes. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the assembled device of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

In certain classes of saddles, notably those having double stirrup-leathers, of which the rosaderos or sweat-leather forms one end of the strap, a double row of holes is punched on one edge of the sweat-leather to match those of the other end of the strap. It is customary to use thongs of lace-leather, which are passed through two or more sets of holes and then tied. These lace-leathers wear and break in time, and it takes considerable time to readjust the stirrups to greater or less length of leg.

It is the object of my invention to provide a clasp or fastening for this class of work.

As shown in the drawings, A is a thin plate of metal having posts 2 and 2 rigidly fixed to it and projecting at right angles with the face of the plate a sufficient distance to pass through the required thickness of leather and extend slightly beyond. The upper or free ends of these posts have notches formed in them, as shown at 3, these notches being both upon the same side of the two posts.

A the hole 7 of the spring 6.

4 is a second thin metal plate, and this plate has holes made through it, as shown at 5 and 5, said holes being elongated, as shown particularly at the right-hand end of the plate in Fig. 4, to form the end shoulder portions 10 and 10, the distance between these holes 5 and 5 being substantially the same as the distance between the tops of the posts, so that the plate 4 can be slipped over the upper ends of the posts 2 and 2.

Upon the top of the plate 4 is riveted a spring 6, the rivet by which this spring is attached to the plate 4 being intermediate of the holes 5 and 5 and either in the center of the plate, as shown at 6 in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, or at one side of the center, as shown at 6 in Figs. 5 and 6. In either case one end of the spring 6 is adapted to be lifted from the plate for the purpose of disengaging the parts, and to facilitate this lifting action a recess 4 may be provided in the plate 4 to receive the finger-nail or an implement.

The spring 6 has holes made in it, as shown at 7 and 7 but the holes in the spring have their ends walls slightly offset from the end walls of the holes in the plate 4, one of the holes 7 in the spring being elongated and adapted to .register with the post 2 and the other hole 7 in said spring being normally out of register with the post 2, whereby the posts are engaged in the manner hereinafter described.

When it is desired to attach the plate 4 to the posts 2 and 2 ,'one end of the plate is passed over the top of the post 2 until the said post 2 projects through the elongated opening 5 of said plate 4 and also through The other end of the plate 4 is now pressed down over the other post 2, the latter passing through the elongated hole 5, and as the hole 7 of the spring above the hole 5 is of circular form and is' out of register with the hole 5 the top of the post 2 in the operation just described will contact at 7" with the jprtion of the spring which overhangs the ole 5 of the plate 4, and thereby lift the free end of the spring to allow the shoulder portion 10 of the plate 4 to arrange itself in line with the notch 3 in the post 2. While in this position with the free end of the spring elevated and in contact with the top of the post 2 the plate 4 with the attached spring may be moved longitudinally to allow the shoulder portions 10 and 10 to enter the notches of the posts, the

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elongated form of the hole 7l of the spring 6 permitting this movement and also permitting the circular hole 7 in the opposite end of the spring to be moved in register with and to receive the top of the post 2, and thereby hold the parts in their locked position.

To detach the plate 4, the finger-nail or a simple instrument of any well-known and suitable type may be entered in the recess 4l and the free end of the spring lifted out of engagement with its post 2, when the spring 6 and plate 4 may be moved longitudinally to carry the shoulder portions l() and 10/ of the plate out of engagement with the notches of the posts, when the plate 4 may be readily separated from its engagement with the lower plate A.

As the straps which are to be fastened together are passed over the posts 2 and 2, it will be seen that they will be firmly locked in position and cannot be removed without first lifting the end of the spring so as to clear the top of the post 2 and allow the plate 4 to be moved longitudinally, so that the edges of the holes 7 and 7 are disengaged from the notches of the posts when it is free to be removed.

The device forms a permanent means for securing straps and belts of all descriptions, and being made of thin plates there is little or no projection upon either side which would chafe or wear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A fastening comprising a fixed and a removable plate between which the strap or part to be secured is held, posts secured to the hired plate and passing through holes in the strap, said posts having notches upon one side and facing in the same direction., said removable plate having holes which are elongated and provided with end shoulder portions adapted to engage the notches in the posts, and a spring-plate hired to the removable plate, having, in one end portion, an elongated opening which is substantially in register with one of the posts, and at the opposite end portion an opening which is normally out of register with the companion post, said opposite endof the spring being unconnected with the plate, whereby it is lifted by the post to allow the shoulder portion of this end of the removable plate to be alined with the notch of said post, and the plate is adapted to be moved longitudinally to cause the said shoulder portions thereof to engage the notches of both posts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. JONES. Vitnesses P. O. DossEY, P. W. FAHEY. 

